Shout Factory presents

Jeffrey Ross: No Offense (2008)

"American Idol ... they shoot that show in high def. It's because you've got to me high and deaf to make it through an episode."- Jeffrey Ross

Stars: Jeffrey Ross
Director: Jay Karas

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for Strong Language
Run Time: 00h:57m:36s
Release Date: 2008-10-14
Genre: comedy

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B	B+	B+	B	B+

 

DVD Review

Apparently I’m not the only guy who associates Jeffrey Ross with those Comedy Central roasts, since the back of the box attributes him as the "Roastmaster General." It’s true though; I can’t think of a single stand-up performance of Ross’ that doesn’t involve a Friar’s Club Roast. His comedy special No Offense rectifies this by showcasing Ross’ first headline show in his home state of New Jersey.

There isn’t much to say about No Offense without ruining all of the punchlines. Admittedly, Ross doesn’t seem quite as funny when he’s not roasting a celebrity, but he’s still capable of eliciting laughs when he occasionally tears into his audience members. It never reaches the vicious heights of, say, Andrew Dice Clay, and that’s probably a good thing. I personally love Dice, but Ross keeps things good natured enough that he never comes off like a malicious bully. There’s even a hysterical bit at the end where he calls upon some audience members to participate in this act—arguably the highlight of the show.

As far as his routine goes, it’s a mixed bag. Some of his jokes are obvious and tired while others work fairly well. There’s one amazingly off-colored bit regarding the virginity of Miley Cyrus that damn near doubled me over. So, if Ross doesn’t keep the hilarity flying fast and furious, there’s enough strong material strewn about to warrant a recommendation.

Jeffrey Ross may not be a well-known performer, but this DVD is a must-have for his fans. Casual fans of comedy routines should also give this a chance as it’s an energetic performance peppered with enough belly laughs to get you through the occasional dry spells.

Rating for Style: B
Rating for Substance: B+

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.78:1 - Widescreen
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	yes

Image Transfer Review: As far as a standard comedy routine goes, the image quality on this disc is crisp and clear. Stage colors are vibrant and the curtained background is very detailed, if largely unimpressive. There isn't much to critique when it comes to a stage show such as this, but the technical qualities are above par.

Image Transfer Grade: B+
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
Dolby Digital 5.1	English	no

Audio Transfer Review: A fairly standard 5.1 track, largely confined to the front and main speakers. Audio is clear with dialogue never overpowered by the laughter. Nothing here that's going to blow out your speakers or transport you to Borgata Hotel Casino, but there's never any problem with this presentation.

Audio Transfer Grade: B 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 22 cues and remote access
1 Featurette(s)
1 Feature/Episode commentary by Jeff Ross and director Jay Karas.
Packaging: Keep Case
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extras Review: There's not a lot here, just a commentary and a featurette. The featurette runs just under 14 minutes and showcases Ross' return to New Jersey two days before the concert. We're introduced to his family and follow him as he returns to his high school for a tour and performance. There are some amusing interactions with students and his mini-performance is really funny as well. It's not lengthy, but it's a good watch.

The commentary is another high point. Ross is more low-key than I expected and his conversation with director Jay Karas covers an incredible amount of ground for the relatively short running time. Among the topics of discussion are the show, Ross' childhood, and some behind-the-scenes tidbits about the production. Brisk, informative, and terrific.

Extras Grade: B+
 

Final Comments

Get to know Jeffrey Ross with this very entertaining little package. The act alone is worth the price of the DVD, plus there's some terrific, if skimpy, supplemental material to boot. If you haven't seen his routine, I'd recommend giving this a try.

Matt Serafini 2008-10-13